Currently in the United Kingdom, independent, divisional, non-computerised ratings exist for male boxers (eg. those produced by Boxing News), but there are no equivalent ratings for female British boxers. Yes, some divisions are sparse, some are even empty, but these women are pioneers, and this ratings page helps document their achievements. We will begin with twice yearly ratings, increasing in frequency as the sport grows.
Also listed is our British P4P top 5.
Input from: Suzy Smith, Jane Couch (Britian’s first officially licensed female boxer), Jake Chaney and Ireneusz Fryszkowski.
Terri Harper (Image credit: Daily Star)
1. Terri Harper 10-0
23 year old Yorkshire-woman, Harper, is fresh off the biggest win of her career - an impressive 10 round decision over the very experienced Eva Wahlstrom. Harper already had several decent names on her ledger, such as Viviane Obenauf and Claudia Lopez, but the Wahlstrom win now puts her in line for fascinating clashes with Mikaeler Mayer (ranked at #3 at 130lbs with LinealBoxingChampion.com), Delfine Persoon (#2) and Maiva Hamadouche (#1). Next up for Terri though is an all-British dust up with No.5 on this P4P list, Natasha Jonas.
2. Chantelle Cameron 12-0
Since joining trainer Jamie Moore early in 2019, Cameron has notched up 4 wins, finishing the year with a near total shutout points win over veteran, and former World titlist, Anahi Sanchez. Chantelle seems to be solid in all departments, and has good power too, stopping 7 of her 12 opponents so far, but to reach the top of the tree will be no easy task, as she fights at 135lbs - 140lbs, where some of the sport’s most talented names are: Katie Taylor (Lineal Champion at Lightweight), Amanda Serrano and Jessica McCaskill (Lineal Champion at Junior Welterweight).
3. Savannah Marshall 8-0
Hartlepool’s “Silent Assassin” had a slow start to her professional career, but is now 8-0, having racked up 5 wins in the last 17 months. Marshall is hard puncher, and is physically huge for a female super middleweight, standing just under 6 feet tall. On June 27th she takes on Lineal Heavyweight Champion, Geovana Peres. The WBO 175lbs strap is also on the line, but that title does not do the fight justice. Peres is the #1 fighter above 168lbs. If Marshall wins she deserves full credit. As an amateur Marshall became the first British female to win a World Championship gold medal (2012). She is also the only person to have ever defeated Claressa Shields - in an amateur qualifying bout for the 2012 World Championships.
4. Hannah Rankin 9-4
Aside from a split decision loss early in her career Rankin’s only other defeats have come against high level opposition. She went the distance with Claressa Shields in 2018, in Kansas, USA, had a tough, close battle with Patricia Bergchult In Malta in 2019, and most recently, got back to winning ways stopping Eva Bajic in Scotland in February 2020. Musically talented, Rankin is an accomplished bassoonist. In the sport of boxing, she is a road warrior.
5. Natasha Jonas 9-1
At 5’8”, Jonas is a big Lightweight, and has good amateur pedigree, winning Bronze at the 2012 amateur World Championships. She was also the first ever British female boxer to compete at the Olympic Games, ultimately getting outpointed by Katie Taylor in the quarterfinals. Her lone professional loss came by stoppage against Viviane Obenhauf in 2018, a woman that Terri Harper defeated the following year. Jonas has had three comeback wins, but faces an even tougher challenge next, when she is due to take on Harper at the Doncaster Dome on Terri’s home patch in Yorkshire.
